Well-drilling apparatus



Jan. l, 1929.

R. D.l DODDS WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2l, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Ihm/ENTOR. 077,6. .1,

ATTORNEYI,

Patented Jan. l, 1929.

.REDUS-I). DODDS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS.

Application iled August 21,' 1922. Serial No. 583,104.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well drilling apparatus, and has particular relation to an apparatus for taking cores, or samples of the strata beingpi'erced in well drilling operations.

" core orming bit.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described specially designed for t-he purpose of drilling awell bore and at the same time forming and preserving a core ofthe strata being drilled through.

Anotherobjeot of the invention is to provide, in well drilling apparat-us, a core taking device'l which may be readily let down through the drillstem and locked for rotation therewith and which, when the core is formed, maj.7 be 'withdrawn through the drill stem, and which will withdraw the core with it to the surfaceof the ground for examination.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in well drilling apparatus of the charborin bit, as well as an improved form of With the above and other lobjects in' vie the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, opera,

tion, and arrangement of parts, an example of whichV is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a vertical sectional view of the complete apparatus, Figure 1 showing the upper end thereof, Figure 2 showing the intermediate part thereof, and Figure 3 showing the lower end thereof.

Figure 4 shows a diagrammatical view of one of the cutters of the well boring bit.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the tool for` lowering the core taking apparatus into place within the drill stem.

Figure 6 shows a side view of the locking device for locking the core taking apparatus lower end of which there is a drill collar 2 whose lower end is flared and formed with downwardly flared' internal grooves 3, whose upper ends are somewhat wider than their lower ends forming, in effect, dove tailed mortises into which are fitted the shanks of the cutters 4. The lower ends of these cutters are flared'radially and formed with cutting edges 5. The Shanks of the cutters are itted into said mortises from the inside of the drill collar and are held therein by means of `a sleeve 6, which is fitted down through said collar before itis screwed onto the drill stem. The lower end of said sleeve 6 abuts against internal shoulders as 7 of the cutters, and when the drill collar is screwed onto/the drill stem the lower end of said stem abuts against the upper end of said sleeve and the sleeve is thereby'locked in place and in turn secures said cutters against detachment. As the cutters become worn or broken they may be readily removed for repairs or replacements by detaching the drill collar 2 from the stem and then removing the sleeve 6.

' The numeralB designates a-core barrel which isof a diameter to 4readily pass through the stem leaving a space 9 between said stem and barrel for the passage of fluidil vThreaded into the lower end of said core barrel there is an annular seat 10 whose inside wall. converges downwardly forming a downwardly tapering seat for the core engaging doofs 11. These dogs are preferably arcuate in horizontal cross sectional view and their inner faces are serrated or toothed to engage with the core 12. The upper end of the seat 10 which is threaded into the core -barrel is reduced forming an annular shoulder 13 against which the lower end of said barrel abuts, 'and the lower end of the seat is formed with mortises 14 into which the shanks of the cutters 15 are tte'd from beneath. The front side of each shank has a vertical rib 16, and the mortises are provided with corresponding grooves 17 into which said ribs fit, and in rear of each cutter the seat 10 has a deep slot as 18 into which a dowel pin as 19 may be driven and also a pin 16 through rib 16 to clamp the cutters lagainst detachment in the seat. Threaded into the upper'end of the core barrel there is a valve seat 19 having a central passageway 20 which is controlled by a ball valve 21. This valve is confined by the tubular ico ` 23. As the core is formed and passes into verse slots said barrel the luid contained in the barrel will lift the seat'21 and pass out through the passageways 23. The numeral 24- designates a cylindrical anchor block whose lower end is reduced and threaded into the cage 22. This `anchor block carries two pairs of blades as 25, 25 and 26, 26 located within the respective trans- 27 and 28 'cut through said block, the latter being above the former. The blades 25', 25 are pivoted at their upper ends in the slot27 and the blades 26, 26 are pivoted at their lower ends in the slot 28.

Beneath the slots 27, and forming anex- `tension vthereof there is a -dcep socket `29.

Within said socket there isa conical shaped head 3() and integral with it there is a depending shank 31. Surrounding said shank there is a coil spring 32 on which the head rests and the spring is seatedon the inwardly projecting endsof the set screws 33, 33, carried by the anchor block. Beneath said inwardly projecting ends there is anut' 34 threaded onto the shank tact against the projecting ends ofsaid Set screws to limit the upward movement ofthehead 30 under the influence of said sprin 32 and the range of the movement of sai head may be varied by varying the adjustment of said nut.

The lower ends of the blades 25 are transversely aligned'and inwardly widened and the upper ends of the blades 26 are inwardly widened forming the overlapping wings 35, 35. Said wings are formed with the respective slots 35', 35 whichl diverge. v

There is an actuating rod 36 which works through a central bore in the anchor block'. The upper en d ot' this rod has a head-.37, preferably screwed thereon, and whose upper end is conical shaped. Beneath the head the rod works through a gland 38 which is threaded into the socket 39 provided in the upper end of said block andV within this socket the rod isformed with an annular rib 40 which contacts against the lower end of said gland, when the rod is elevated, and sus'- tains the weight of the-core taking apparatus and when in its lowered position rests on the bottom of the socket 39. 4This rod also has a transverse slot 41 through which the overla ping wings 35 work and beneath 4said s ot the rod 1s reduced forming an an nular shoulder 42 aligned abovev a similar shoulder 43 ot' the anchor block. There is a pin A4 whose ends are anchored to the rod 36 which passes through .the slots 35. The reduced lower end of the rod 36 works betwcen the blades 25 and is aligned above the conical shaped head 30. v

The core taking apparatus is let down into the drill Stem by any suitable appliance. A

ends of the slots 31 which is adapted to congrappling tool as shown for vthis urpose consists of the slotted head 45 whic tached to the lower end of the cable 46, and pivoted in the slot ot this head, on the pin 47', are oppositely 47, 47, between whoseupper ends a'coil push is ati disposed grappling hooks spring 48 is interposed. These hooks arcanchored underneath the head 37, and the device-is lowered by said cable into the drill stem. 'While being lowered the anchor block 24 and theappendants thereof are suspended by means of the rib 40 through the instrumentality of the gland 38. 1 While in suspended position the pin 44 will rest in the upper 35', thus holding the blades 26 withdrawn inwardly within the `slot 28. While in suspended position the spring 32 will hold the conical shaped head 30 elevated into position so that the conical surface thereof will rest againstthe beveled faces 49, 49 at the lower ends of the blades 25 thus holdin said blades projecting outwardly beyond t e anchor block. The lower ends of these blades are beveled as at 50 and the section 51 'of the drill stem has opposing vertical ribs 52 whose upperends are beveled as at 53. The blades 25 and ribs 52 have said ends beveled so that the blades will not hang on the upper ends of said ribs, but will pass on down until they engage against the'upper end 54 of the drill stem sect-ion beneath, and the core taking apparatus will thus be stopped against descending further into the drill stem. Meanwhile the upper ends of the blades 26 will have passed.' beneath the lower end 55 of the drill stem section above. The weight of the rod 36, however, will carry it on downwardly into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 until the rib 40 is stopped by t-he annular shoulder 56 of the anchor block, andLthepin wardly through the-slots 35 will spread the blades 20 causing them to engage underneath the lower end 55 of the 'drill stem section above. The extreme lower end of the rod 36 44 passing 'down will pass between thevinwardly flared lowerl ends of the blades 25 and-lock them in projecting position, at the same time contacting with and d'cpressin the head 30.` The core taking device will t us be locked in position in the drill stem and the hooks 47 of the lgrappling tool having been spread by the conical lshapedrupper end of the gland 38, as shown in Figure 1, said grappling drawn.

The device is now 'in position for'operatool may be withtion. The drill stem .is rotatedY from the sur- :for inspection a suitable grappling or fishing isc ' on the tapering walls of seat barrel within the stem,

tool is let down into the drill stem and engaged over the head 37, and an upward. pull is exerted on the rod 36. As the rod moves upwardly the pin 44, operating in the bea-r-l ings 35 will contract the pass up within the. joint of the` blades 26 and permit them. to drill stem above them, and as a further pull is exerted on the rod 86 the annular rib 40 thereof willengage against the gland 38, and the lower end of said rod will be released from between the blades 25, thus permitting the entire core taking device to be pulled up-v wardly through the stem. Meanwhile the wedge shaped dogs 11 will ride downwardly be lcontracted againstand sever the core and the same will be withdrawn to the ground surface.

What I claim is l.. Well drilling apparatus including a drill stem having spaced internal shoulders, a boring bit attached thereto and including a collar formed with mortises and cutters detachably anchored in said mortises, a core an annular member attached thereto and formed with detachable cutters and a downwardly converging internal seat, core engaging dogs fitted in said seat, releasible blades adapted to engage against said shoulders to lock said barrel against longitudinal movement in the stem,

some of said blades also interlocking with the stern to prevent the independent the barrel relative to the stem.

2. fell drilling apparatus including a drill stem having inside annular shoulders, spaced apart, a collar attached to the lower end thereof andformed with inside mortises, separate cutters whose Shanks are fitted into said mortises, a sleeve within the collar serotation of curino said cutters against detachment, a`

core arrel in said stem, an annular core forming bit attached to the lower end of the barrel and formed with an internal downwardly tapering seat, core engaging dogs slidably mounted on said seat, and means for interlocking said barrel and stem, said means including blades pivot-ally connected to the barrel and whose free ends abut against said respective shoulders, some of said blades also interlocking with the stem to prevent the independent rotation of the barrel in the stem.

3. Well boring apparatus including a drill stem, having spaced annular internalabutments, a drilling bit' att-ached to the lower end thereof, a core barrel within the stem andextending through said bit, a core forming bit attached to the lower end of said barrel, core engaging mea-ns within said barrel, ananchor within the stem to which the barrel is attached, releasible blade-like members pivoted to the anchor and adaptedto interlock with the shoulders, an actuating rod through which said blades may be actuated into engaged or released position, some of l1 and will thus ter said blades, when in engaged position also interlocking with the stem to prevent the rotation ofthe barrel relative to the stem.

4. W'ell boring apparatus including a drill stem having spaced internal shoulders, a drilling bit attached to the lower end thereof, a core barrel within the stem and extending below the bit, core forming means attached to the lower end of the barrel, core retaining means Within the barrel, an anchor within the stem to which the barrel is attached, interlocking means carried by the stem and anchor respectively, through which the rotation of the stem is imparted to the barrel, said inlocking means also engaging said shoul` ders and fixing the stem against longitudinal movement in the barrel, and an actuating rod through which said means may be actuated into engaged or released position.

5. Well boring apparatus including a stem having inside abutments spaced apart one above the other, a 'core barrel in the stem, an anchor attached to the barrel, outwardly projecting means pivoted to the anchor and adapted, when in active position, to engage with one of said abutments, an actuating rod having an operative connection with said means and adapted to actuate the same into engaged or released position, other projecting means pivoted to the anchor and disposed to be actuated by said rod into active position in engagement with the other abutment.

6. fell boring apparatus including a stem having inside abutments spaced apart, one above the other, a core barrel in the stem, an anchor attached to the barrel, outwardly projecting means pivoted to the anchor and adapted, when lin active position, to engage with one of said abutments, an actuating rod having an operative connection with said means and adapted to actuate the same 4into engaged or released position, other projecting means pivoted to the anchor and disposed to be actuated by said rod into active position 1n engagement with the other abutment, and

, means carried by the stem and disposed to interlock with one of said projecting means to lock the barrel against rotation relative to the stem. p y

7 In a well drilling apparatus means for securing a core barrel in a drill stem, said means including an anchor, engaging means pivoted to s aid anchor and when in active l posit-ions, dlvergmg upwardly and downwardly therefrom, respectively, an actuating rod operatively connected with the upwardly divergingactuating means and adapted [to operate the same into active or inactive position, said rod also being operable against the' other actuating means to operate the same into acti-ve position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this.specifcation.

REDUS D. DODDS. 

